Civic body, DTP lock horns over mobile towers

The Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon (MCG) and the district town planning (enforcement) department have locked horns over initiating action against illegal mobile towers on the rooftops of residential buildings in private localities in Gurgaon.

As complaints against mobile tower radiation continue to rise, hapless residents have been running from pillar to post but all in vain.

"We have been protesting against mobile towers installed in our colony. We have written to the MCG, DTP-enforcement and Gurgaon deputy commissioner PC Meena but no action has been taken. Two women left the locality a few months ago fearing radiation," said Adhiraj Chaudhary, resident of Devender Vihar, Sector 56.

"A pregnant woman left the locality fearing radiation seven months ago. Another woman left due to the same reason," he said adding that they were planning to meet the DC again.

"I have written several times to Huda, DTP and MCG officials but nothing has been done to address the issue," said a woman on the condition of anonymity.

In licenced colonies such as Devender Vihar, the DTP enforcement is responsible for taking action.

Anil Dabas, DTP-enforcement, said, "Mobile tower companies had claimed in the Punjab and Haryana High Court that they had installed towers after taking the MCG's permission. Therefore, it is the corporation's duty to take action."

On the other hand, MCG officials said they had not granted permission for installing towers.

"We did not grant permission to install any towers. In private localities, the DTP-enforcement will initiate action. The localities are yet to be handed over to the corporation. We don't have any record of private localities," said Anju Chaudhary, joint commissioner, MCG.

Kamal Mehta (39), resident of Essel Tower, MG Road, said he had been urging his immediate neighbour from the last one-and-a-half-years to remove the mobile phone tower on his rooftop.

"I have requested my neighbour to ask the company to remove the tower at the earliest. Our plight has also failed to move the Gurgaon administration. The authorities need to act at the earliest," said Mehta.